Housing Greenfield Minutes – 05/12/2025

Present: Susan Worgaftik, Nikki Garrett, Peg Hall, Jack Redman, Mary McClintock, Pamela Goodwin, Sara Brown, Jessa McCormack, Lexi Turner, Wisty Rorabacher, Judy Draper, Nancy Hazard, Charity Day, Alyssa Larose, Louise Amyot, Brace Rennels, Ella Condon, Chuck Green, Carol Letson

Guest: Sadie Ryan, Springfield No One Leaves

DISCUSSIONS

Rent Control Legislation—Sadie Ryan and Jessa McCormack
     Rent Control was banned in Massachusetts in 1994 through a referendum.  To change that there is now a bill in the state legislature to allow for localities to decide if they would like rent control.  You can find the bill here https://www.mapletestimony.org/bills/194/S1447 . It provides for a rent increase cap of 5% per year (with some additions related to significant repairs) and bans no fault evictions. It exempts owner occupied housing of 4 units or fewer and new construction is exempt for the first 5 years.  You can find more information at https://www.homesforallmass.org.

     At this time, the bill S.1447/H2328 has many co-sponsors including Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Susannah Whipps.  Representative Blais has not co-sponsored it as of now.

     A resolution using this basic language was passed by the Easthampton City Council.   Jack mentioned that he believes the tenant testimony regarding the raises in rents that they had experienced had a big impact on the Easthampton City Council vote. https://www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/2025/tenants-organize-easthampton-acts/

     Councilor Sara Brown said that she would be willing to put forward a resolution in City Council.  There were questions about whether that would be the most effective thing to do at this time.  While the group as a whole was in favor of some kind of action in support of this effort, members felt that they wanted to read the bill (above) and understand the ramifications of it for Greenfield.  For further information, you can reach Sadie at Mercedes@springfieldnooneleaves.org.
We will continue our discussion at the June Housing Greenfield meeting.

Summer Get Together—Susan Worgaftik
     At the April meeting we talked about getting folks together and out of our Zoom boxes sometime during this summer.  The coordinating group suggested that we could not have our July or August meeting and, instead, have just a potluck when people get a chance to talk about anything at all.
A poll was taken via the chat of the members who were present.  The results are July-1; August-7; Either-7.  So, from the looks of things, August wins.  The coordinating group will discuss this and offer a proposal at the June meeting.

Housing Inspection—Susan Worgaftik
     Just an FYI to folks that Susan is working with Councilor John Garrett to develop a draft housing inspection ordinance for Greenfield.  This is in the very early stages and will likely be introduced after January or very late in 2025.  Templates from Boston, Hadley and Amherst are being used as starting points.  Once a draft is more developed, it will be presented to Housing Greenfield for thoughts, changes, etc.

Preventing Foreclosure-Susan Worgaftik
     Because we believe that there might be a recession coming, Susan suggested that a group might come together to discuss whether there is anything that can be done here in Greenfield to prevent foreclosures.  Amy Cahillane (City of Greenfield), Anna Oltman (City of Greenfield), Gina Govoni (Franklin County Regional Housing Authority), Jack Redman (Greenfield Housing Authority), Jessa McCormack (Housing Greenfield), Lexi Turner (Housing Greenfield) and Emmalynn Hicks (Franklin County Regional Housing Authority) will be the starting group to talk about what we know and what we don’t.  Jessa has been talking with Springfield No One Leaves which has an extensive program.  We will report back at the next meeting.

REPORTS

Community Education on Housing Issues—Charity Day
     Jessa, Charity and Susan met to discuss ideas about doing some community education regarding housing.  We were particularly considering offering presentations starting in the fall to organizations that may have concerns about this issue, but do not have a concentration on it including The Massachusetts Nursing Association, The Rotary, The Elks, The Greenfield Business Association, The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, etc.  The goal of this effort would be to give people facts about many of the myths about affordable housing that are out there and to create a more knowledgeable public regarding this issue.  Susan and Erica Gees, an architect who was part of the early Hope Street parking lot discussions, will be part of a panel on June 24^th at the Greenfield Business Association.  This has been in the works for a while, and we will use this experience to help us understand what we need to do for other such events.

     Once we have a bit more of an idea about what we are doing, we will try our curriculum out at a Housing Greenfield meeting and see what you all think.

    The FRCOG has been doing some similar programming.  Susan will check with Megan Rhodes about what they have found is effective.

Zoning Ordinances and Citizens’ Petitions—Susan Worgaftik
     We won!!! The Greenfield City Council voted down all the citizens’ petitions regarding ADUs and supported the other zoning changes that had been proposed.  This was a great community effort. Thank you all!

Rental Housing Survey—Sara Brown
     Sara is surveying homes and it is still too early for anything more than that at this time.  More information to come.

176 Main Street—Alyssa Larose
     RDI will be hosting a community presentation on the 176 Main Street Development on June 2^nd at 5:30 at the Jon Zon Community Center.  More information to come.

     Alyssa will be meeting with the Downtown Cohort of the Greenfield Business Association to talk about this project.

     RDI is applying to Mass Development for site readiness including site preparation. Alyssa requested a letter in support of this effort.  In accordance, with our previous support for this project, Susan will send a letter of support from Housing Greenfield.

City Council Unhoused Task Force—Sara Brown and Pamela Goodwin
     The Task Force had its first meeting. Sara showed some photos of the flooding that occurred at the homeless encampments along the Green River during the last week.  There are funds to replace the tents, but the city needs to consider alternative sites rather than going through this process every time there is serious inclement weather.  The Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the clean-up of the tents, etc. that are no longer usable.  The Task Force is doing a survey of the unhoused population to assess needs and is considering applying for funding for equitable approaches to public safety funding, which would provide for an unarmed crisis response team which could respond to these kinds of emergencies.

     There were questions regarding whether the city owns property near the Stop and Shop which might be more suitable for an encampment.  And the issue of the need for sanitary facilities for the encampment also came up.  Mary McClintock had done some significant work on this issue and is going to share her findings with the Task Force.  Other issues that must be considered are liability; possible ordinances for identifying sites where people can camp overnight.  It was also noted that Amy Clarke has done some work on pallet houses and it might be worthwhile to check with her.  More to come.

What is happening with HUD?—Susan Worgaftik

     Susan was in a meeting that CHAPA is hosting to keep tabs on what is happening with federal funding for housing.  Everything is in flux and seems to be changing by the day.  There is, however, a concern that mixed status families (families in which some members are citizens and some are not) who are in HUD subsidized housing through Section 8 or some other program may be at risk from ICE because HUD and ICE are now sharing data.  The present understanding is that if ICE raids a Section 8 subsidized home that not only will the immigrants who lived there be subject to whatever horrors are inflicted by ICE, but in addition, the Section 8 certificate will also be withdrawn from circulation making the housing crisis even worse.  So far, this policy has not been put into action, but folks are keeping an eye on the issue.  This makes the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program even more important both for immigrants and citizens.

 Next meeting June 9^th 6:30 pm on zoom.